The International Fashion Colorworks Beading Contest is a resounding success in 2011, and I'm happy to introduce in this article the First Place Winners. You had already a chance to know Evgeniya Semina (she was the Second Place Winner in 2010); another winner, Julia Turova, was the feature in our March newsletter. This year we decided to change the usual format of our articles about winners, and we are glad to suggest you the interview with all First Place Winners together! From left to right: Margarita Kruchinina, Julia Turova, Evgeniya Semina.

1. When and under what circumstances did you hear about your victory in the contest?

Margarita:
On July 1, in the forest at the sea shore, after a hard trip and setting up our camp I called Celia - my friend and student. After learning that my work has won first place, I didn't believe my ears and repeated my question about the contest result. My friends were very happy for me and congratulated. We invited our friends who played guitar, built a big bonfire and sang songs until dawn.

Julia:
I knew the result on July 1, 2011, at 4:17 am my local time. It was good that I was lying in my bed when I read about the victory on the screen of my smartphone, otherwise I would fell into a swoon. For me, being juried into the final of this prestigious competition was a surprise, and winning - the more!

Evgeniya:
It so happened that on the day summing up, my "chief adviser and critic", my mother and I had to leave my city for two days. Getting up a bit earlier, I turned on my computer and saw my name in the list of winners, but I didn't realized what it meant, we embarked on the road. Only after returning home, tired from the long-distance road, I learned that I not only made the First Place in my category, but I also won People's Choice Award!

2. What were your feelings when you realized that you won?

Margarita:
Great joy, of course! Frankly, even now I can hardly believe that. I take this victory as a miracle, a gift of destiny and advance in the future.

Julia:
I still don't quite understand what happened. It seems to me, some other beadweavers' works were much better than mine, more complex, richer in materials and more labor-intensive. When heart drops finally affected, inexplicable joy entirely replaced my first shock!

Evgeniya:
At first, looking at the winners page, I could not believe my eyes. Then... Then, shouting "Hurrah!" - rushed to kiss and hug my mother, my double win was her merit, too.

3. What place in the competition you are expected to get, when submitted your application?

Margarita:
I have never thought about it at all.

Julia:
I confess, I counted to reach the final. This was my most daring dream because it was first time I participated in the contest of such a high level. I didn't believe I could win - ever. Especially, my friends and colleagues very skeptical of my chances.

Evgeniya:
I hoped to win because I put too much hard work into my submission. I hoped of any sort of prize - the first, second, third, but perhaps each participant hopes to win! The day before the results were announced I was all shaking: this year the judges were very strict and all works submitted for the contest were worthy of victory.

4. Have your contest expectations changed during the competition?

Margarita:
Yes, it was interesting to see the fragments of the coming contest beadworks, admire and enjoy more and more new ideas, intricate combinations of lines and shades of color, trying to guess how they look like on a full size picture...

Julia:
Yes. After reaching the final I wanted a miracle. It happened.

Evgeniya:
Unfortunately, many of the works I liked haven't passed in the final. But they are beautiful creations; they were so many this time! It was very sad that remarkable in technique works have not been juried into the final due to a mismatch given color combinations or another, for whatever reasons. My dreams were live all the time!

5. How different is your personal evaluation of entries from judges' scores?

Margarita:
In many ways the same, but some of the decisions are not clear. In my opinion, several quite stunning works didn't even reach the final. However, I am aware that, for example, that to score "originality" is possible if you know and remember all works of all artists working in their respective areas, and you are familiar with submissions presented at all important international competitions. In the same way on other parameters. It seems to me, a man who does not have such knowledge and relevant expertise is quite difficult and presumptuous to even speculate on the jury. Of course, I carefully read all information provided about the judges of the competition and came to the conclusion that I trust these people, both specialists and professionals: their opinion about my work is honest, very valuable and interesting!

Julia:
I guessed two winners, Falling In Love With Life All The More Wedding Dress by Evgeniya Semina and The Power Of Nature Necklace by Fumiko Sekine exactly. Unfortunately, my other personal favorites were not among the winners. I do not consider myself an expert in design, I always like more practical and wearable jewelry, but I knew that mostly the contest winners are "haute couture" items. I made up for myself two lists of favorites - the personal biases and possible jury preferences. And on the second list, I guess just about everything except the only work - my own!

Evgeniya:
I am pleased that almost all of which took place in the final, were from my list of favorites: flawless execution, the exact getting into the color. Judgment, of course, was not easy, but it was fair.

6. Do you think the results of the competition are logical or not? Why?

Margarita:
I think the rules and organization of this contest are the most reasonable, democratic and honest of all known to me.

Julia:
Yes, the results are quite logical, based on the impartial anonymous assessment system.

Evgeniya:
This is probably the most logical of all competitions I have known. Participants and "audiences by" know all the details: who judges, in what terms and how they view and score works, and even their honest their opinion on the contest after it finished. Normally, all this is kept secret - I don't know why. The results are the sums of jurors' evaluations; probably, outcome surprised the judges themselves.

7. What was the best you obtained during your work and what was worse?

Margarita:
It is difficult to judge your own work, it's like your child and is always the best for the mother, and so it should be! Usually my technique is behind my idea, and in pursuit of the embodiment of the idea I have to immediately learn new and improve the old ones.

Julia:
Best to get to save money on materials! I'm kidding... The stuff in my beadworks is not expensive, I did not order anything special, I used what was at hand. I think a major disadvantage of my work is its overly naturalistic look. I've gotten disapproval more often than positive feedbacks.

Evgeniya:
I don't even know. Objectively, I cannot judge my work because for two months work on the dress of six I had wanted cut it into parts. I really like the belt and the upper part of the dress, the clasp. I plan to use a similar design in the future. I don't like lace on the skirt: I wanted something more complex, but I did not dare to complication of the composition.

8. Do you have the feeling of dissatisfaction with the result work or not? Why?

Margarita:
No. I was happy and proud that I was able to implement what I thought of quite a decent technical level. Here, perhaps, I have to explain: as a believer, I believe that we have nothing own at all. I feel just a tool in the hand of the God, and "setting" myself as a tool is very important and responsible thing and one of the major affairs of my life. Positive thinking, continuous learning, "talking" to nature, friends and students help in this. Plans and ideas for future creations come with the accumulation of knowledge and skills necessary for their implementation.

Julia:
Well, yes and no! The work is simple and was created "in one breath" without the creative torment and sleepless nights. In my opinion, it's not worthy of high praise, especially among such strong contenders. On the other hand, I did bet on the ingenuity and knowledge of the origin (I'm an entomologist in the past) - and everything turned out well: my bug took off!

Evgeniya:
I'm happy for my Work. I managed to realize my thoughts in beads and to know my creative limits.

9. If you had to start from scratch, what would you change in your work?

Margarita:
Nothing. Sketch of the overall composition I've done in the same breath, as if someone drove by my hand.

Julia:
I would have changed the suspension - would make it even easier. Or would use cylinder beaded beads woven using peyote stitch to "support" the bug pattern. But the beads came to an end sooner than inspiration!

Evgeniya:
It seems - nothing, although I could work a little bit more on the skirt. Maybe even add embroidered details.

10. When did you decide to take part in the contest and why?

Margarita:
When I saw the third triad, and realized that these are the exact colors that has long hovered and demanded the realization of something big, but I was lazy and turnover jam. But paua shells ordered in New Zealand and sent to me from Austria by the good fairy and my friend Galina Baer already laid and beckoned me to start working! My great separate thank to Galina! And I want to once again heartily thank Zoya Gutina for pushing me to design my beadwork!

Julia:
I would like to participate in Fashion Colorworks last year, primarily because of the prospect of being in your newspaper, and just to showcase by beadworks in the gallery of entries, but the uncertainty in my forces prevented me. This year I finally made my decision and set to work on the same day when the contest triads had been declared.

Evgeniya:
Fashion Colorworks is my favorite contest. I started preparing for it long before its actual opening. I saw color combinations and start buying materials. Great time to create submissions only strengthened the desire to participate and try my hands at a big project.

11. What do you think is the main thing for yourself when taking the decision to participate in the Fashion Coloworks?

Margarita:
The contest was international and I understood that regardless of the results my work would be seen by many people, it motivated me to give everything fully and helped fight the laziness and lack of organization.

Julia:
It was a challenge. A rare opportunity to get an assessment of my work in competent jury. The desire to compete with myself: can I manage the contest tasks? can I overcome the complete lack of competitive spirit? Working on my future contest entries had to stimulate my imagination poisoned by sad events of previous years, and to help "grow wings".

Evgeniya:
I wanted to do something interesting. In 2010 it was a tiara, this year it's a wedding dress. I experimented on the design and shape trying new combinations. I wanted to put it all together in a harmonious and elegant item.

12. As far as the competition fit into your creative plans?

Margarita:
Perfectly blended, I have already told about that above.

Julia:
I built my creative plans according the contest schedule. The orders were put aside, my sleep was shortened by an hour or two. My Muse has reached me even when I haven't expected her and made me work at any time and in any place. To be honest, I do not really remember the circumstances of working on my Brazilian Harlequin!

Evgeniya:
This contest is a real event of the year for me. Last year, after the Fashion Colorworks 2010, I planned to participate in this year contest. Upon learning the results of this year, I sit and think: what special to create for the 2012 contest? I can say with certainty that Fashion Colorworks firmly entrenched in my life.

13. Did you make for the contest all that planned or not? Why?

Margarita:
I've done everything I wanted. When I didn't like anything like as beads lay down, the quality of a stitch I was redoing that. I consider it is important to fix any deficiencies immediately without accumulating errors and leaving "for later", because later it might not be enough time and desire.

Julia:
The plan has been fulfilled and exceeded!

Evgeniya:
Unfortunately, all the plans have not been realized. I wanted to embroider a matching purse to the dress, to make decorations for the hair and bracelets. But time was not enough, because I had to prepare for my college tests and pass them!

14. Did your victory affect somehow for your future plans?

Margarita:
Yes, though it is difficult to value all the challenges and opportunities. For the nearest future, I strengthened my decision to organize a collective exhibition of bead art at the Rostov-on-Don history museum. I already know: my new status will help me promote this project. And, of course, success, recognition and admiration warm up my heart inspire!

Julia:
Of course! I was standing on a crossroads in a sort of crisis caused not by failures, but rather by unexpectedly showered large and small success in my bead life. This contest put an end to the question whether I continue to live and breathe this inexplicable to many business?

Evgeniya:
Yes, of course. Just like last year, participation and victory in contest gave me a lot of positive emotions, and gave confidence in their abilities. The first embroidered dress was appreciated. I'm planning to continue a line of beaded clothes.

15. How the results of the contest changed your ideas about beadwork?

Margarita:
Didn't change. Rather reinforced the view and attitude to beading as an art with infinite possibilities!

Julia:
About beaded art in general - not at all. On my place in it - 180 degrees. It is time to begin considering my bead work more serious than a self-sustainable (at best) or a little lucrative hobby. For me, beading has already long been as the same art form as sculpture or painting, and after the contest I realized once again that is!

Evgeniya:
Considering the work of the participants, I discovered many new techniques and their combinations, saw amazing shapes, interesting to their compatibility in color. I want So much to try! But it is unlikely soon come out since I don't have time to implement all my ideas.

16. What do you think about participating in bead contests in general?

Margarita:
I'm fine with that. It has long been known that the participants of any competition are growing rapidly in a professional and personal respect. There is such a moment, it's sad when amazing things just end up in private collections. Let many people around the world can see, admire and enjoy the incomparable works!

Julia:
I don't like to compete, where victory depends on the number of votes. But the contest with a panel of qualified jurors each of them is an artist, it is quite another! Such competitions help work out more responsible attitude to work.

Evgeniya:
Since my childhood I loved a variety of contests, trying to participate in all available. This is a push forward, time for inspiration and good ideas.

17. Have you changed your attitude to competition after a victory or not? Why?

Margarita:
Probably not. It is as it was before - approving. For many years I've been teaching I've claimed my students to take part in various competitions, and I'm always seeing a positive effect on their development regardless of the formal result.

Julia:
For me, the competition had been largely a lottery but I don't gamble! Now I learn thinking of contests as of sort of test in school to check out what I can do and what I still cannot.

Evgeniya:
I love contests, and really want them to be honest.

18. What weaknesses of our contest could you mention?

Margarita:
I don't see any weaknesses. Maybe a temporary technical failure that slightly delayed finalists' announcement, but it is even exacerbated the intrigue!

Julia:
Weaknesses are often a continuation of merit. Democracy and ability of participation for anyone are certainly pluses, but they can turn minuses to the organizers. The participants are often inattentive and non-punctual, and don't follow the contest rules. All that makes difficulties for organizers of the contest. Maybe it makes sense to create a submission form for the entrants to filter out improperly filled in applications.

Evgeniya:
I have little experience of taking part in competitions, so I cannot say about any disadvantages. I wish Zoya Gutina has more assistants to manage a stream of submissions, I can imagine how hard it was to process them.

19. What could we do to Fashion Colorworks became even more interesting?

Margarita:
Everything can be done better, the ideal, as it's known, is unattainable, but strive for it is right! I think that would be fun, if you add something intangible: certificates for the most "cool" beadwork, for the use of unconventional, unexpected designs and materials, for the courage and creativity, for the most stylish and elegant piece of jewelry... Interesting would be a competition within the competition: collective works with many participants from different countries involved. It would be very promising, in my view.

Julia:
Involvement of famous artists as judges, media coverage, sponsors and partners - can you think of the better beaded art advertising? I think Fashion Colorworks is doing a great job attracting a wide range of passionate people from all countries hooked on beadwork. The contest may become a launching pad for new names. What could be more interesting than watching delivery of the new stars?

Evgeniya:
Come up with some other conditions besides color? Create more categories? My little mercantile desire is to attract more sponsors and to give the contest better advertising. Even the most shy participants will immediately catch up!

20. Are you going to take part in Fashion Colorworks next year and in what category?

Margarita:
I do not know. If one of the triads coincide with creative aspirations.

Julia:
I'm sure, I will try! Ideally I'd like to cover all the color combinations and all categories, but what would my whimsical muse say? We haven't discussed this topic yet!

Evgeniya:
Sure if I have time! I cannot guess a category, I'll need to see the new color triads to get my imagination played!

21. What three words could describe Fashion Colorworks best of all?

Margarita:
Creativity. Honesty. Professionalism.

Julia:
Overcoming. Inspiration. Creativity.

Evgeniya:
Interest. Inspiration. Excitement.

22. What do you wish the present and future participants in our contest?

Margarita:
I wish all the inspiration and faith in his star and good luck!

Julia:
Try - without fear, enjoying the process of work!

Evgeniya:
I wish creative energy to all, inspiration and a little courage, to overcome all obstacles!

Thank you so much, ladies!
We at MyLovelyBeads.com wish you further success!

Fashion Colorworks 2011 Beading Contest - Winners
 
Beadwork by Margarita Kruchinina
 
Beadwork by Julia Turova
 
Beadwork by Evgeniya Semina